After getting scant air time early on Thursday, Ron Paul’s foreign policy views took center stage during the debate’s second half in a heated exchange about U.S. relations with Iran.

While Sen. Rick Santorum and U.S. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann said the Middle Eastern nation posed a clear threat to American security, Paul encouraged a policy of “respect” toward the country.

“Iran is a threat because they have some militants there, but believe me … Iran does not have an air force that can come here — they can’t even make enough gasoline for themselves,” Paul said. “And here we are…we’re building up this case against them, just like we did with Iraq.”

Sanctions and other measures taken against countries that have not attacked the U.S. undermine free trade and put America at risk of becoming a target of future hostile actions, he said.

The response noticeably irked Santorum, who said Iran extremists are currently targeting U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. But Paul, who has said one of his first acts as president would be to withdraw troops from overseas, stood firm.

“It’s trillions of dollars we are spending on these wars,” he said, earning applause from the audience.

Paul also drew cheers as he railed against the “status quo” politicians he blames for the country’s current financial woes during his response to the first query directed at him Thursday.

The recent downgrade of the U.S. credit rating was the result of the country’s failed monetary policies, and the inability of those in charge to rethink those strategies, he said.

“They’ve put the interest rates way lower than they should be, and it encourages malinvestment and debt,” said Paul, who also spoke out against bailouts.

The 12-term congressman said he didn’t support amnesty for those in the country illegally, and would roll back the Affordable Care Act signed into law last year. Paul said same-sex marriage is an issue for the states, not the federal government, and that a sound monetary policy required phasing out the Federal Reserve.

He ended his time on stage by telling those present his 35 years in politics had been defined by “the cause of liberty.”